How much is critical illness insurance per month in Canada?

For $100,000 of comprehensive coverage on a level 10-year term, a non-smoking 35-year-old typically pays about $34–$82 a month depending on sex and health class; a 50-year-old pays roughly $108–$258. Smokers pay 50–80% more. The benefit amount, plan type, and any riders move the number further.

What makes critical illness insurance more expensive?

Age and smoking status are the two biggest factors, followed by the benefit amount, the plan type (comprehensive costs more than basic-3), the term length, and riders such as return-of-premium. Applying older or as a smoker raises the rate the most.

Does a return-of-premium rider change the cost a lot?

Yes — a return-of-premium rider typically adds 30–50% to the base premium. It refunds your premiums if you never claim, so it's worth weighing against simply investing the difference, especially if you have available TFSA room.

Critical illness · Cost

Critical illness insurance cost in 2026

Premiums depend mostly on your age, whether you smoke, the benefit amount, the plan type, and the term length. The ranges below are for $100,000 of comprehensive coverage on a level 10-year term, non-smoker, standard health class — get a live quote for exact pricing.

Critical illness insurance cost by age (2026)

Age	Female (monthly)	Male (monthly)
30	$28 – $42	$45 – $66
35	$34 – $52	$56 – $82
40	$48 – $74	$80 – $118
45	$72 – $108	$118 – $172
50	$108 – $164	$178 – $258
55	$164 – $246	$268 – $392
60	$248 – $372	$408 – $598

Illustrative ranges for $100,000 comprehensive coverage, level 10-year term, non-smoker. Actual premiums depend on underwriting, medical disclosure, benefit amount, plan type, term, smoking status, province, and riders.

What drives the premium

Age — the single biggest factor; premiums rise sharply through the forties and fifties.
Smoking status — smokers pay roughly 50–80% more; insurers count tobacco, cannabis, vaping, and nicotine pouches.
Benefit amount — most plans run $25,000–$250,000; the premium scales with the lump sum.
Plan type — a basic-3 plan (cancer, heart attack, stroke) costs less than a 20–26 condition comprehensive plan.
Term length — a longer guarantee (term-to-65/75 or permanent) costs more upfront but locks the rate.
Return-of-premium rider — adds roughly 30–50% to the base premium.

How to lower the cost without losing the coverage you need

You can trim the premium without gutting the policy: apply while you're young and healthy to lock in a favourable rate class, choose a basic-3 plan if cancer/heart/stroke is your main concern, right-size the benefit amount to your real income-replacement need, and skip the return-of-premium rider if you'd rather invest the difference. Above all, compare across carriers — two insurers can price the same person 30% apart.

For the carrier-by-carrier view see the best critical illness picks, and for the full conditions list and how the product works see the critical illness guide.

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Lowest Rates Hub connects consumers with licensed insurance brokers across Canada. Quotes are provided by partner brokers and the carriers they represent; LRH does not bind coverage or hold an insurance licence. Estimates are not bound coverage. Final premiums depend on the insurer's underwriting and the information disclosed in the application. Policies underwritten by IDC Worldsource and partner insurers. Privacy policy.